He could understand her animosity and part him blamed himself for such a thing; if he had simply killed Crystarium before Baphomet had come, he could have easily covered the death by a falsehood. Sadly, he had not been given that chance and his certainty that she was blood related had gotten in the way - he had wronged Caligula and come the appropriate time, he would have to make it up to her. He had to admit, even he was agitated by the presence of Ska; their mother had avoided her duties to tend to the brat and thus had fallen even further from his graces. Hell, the deranged woman had even attempted to claim a likeness between Ska and Caligula - it made him laugh that she would ever envision the cur growing up to be as beautiful and refined as his Caligula. Vague and his mother could dote over the little creature all they wanted but regardless of its' parents love, it had been added to the apparently ever extending list of those that would fall to the teeth of Ruvindra's firstborns. Vidar had been forgotten if only for his affiliation with Azrael, a wolf that Tesseract saw plenty of use for but one day that affiliation would slip and they would take him.

Survival of the fittest had always been the law of nature, they were simply enforcing it.

Though he spent the majority of his time exploring the mind's of the wolves of Iromar, there was one thing that trumped all of his priorities: Caligula. Throughout the day he would follow her scent from time to time to ensure that she was safe - they had met with adulthood and the realisation sent a whole new sensation through Tesseract. He needed to protect her even more so; there were males, too many, that all posed a threat to her while they saw themselves superior. Just the mere thought of one of them attempting to sway her affections, or force them from her, made the fur over his spine bristle and his teeth clench down. He could not help it - for every step he took to follow her, he found her scent criss crossed with Baphomet's, Andra's... so many, far too many. There was no question about it: he had to give her a kingdom of her own, one where she would be safe.

Still agitated by the thoughts, he continued to follow the scent of his beloved, his paws taking him around the outskirts of Iromar before leading him into the broad forests that skirted around the swamps. As he exited the pack, her scent became alone and he sighed in relief, his muscles relaxing and his pace moving into one of a more upbeat nature; they would be alone, and that was how he liked it. Soon enough he caught a glimpse of her dark form, another satisfied sigh moving from his lips as he slowed, moving alongside her and brushing close. He paused then, nibbling behind her ear affectionately, his tail raised to the King's rank as it waved. Out in the open, he was the King and she was the Queen - Baphomet could not take that away from them.

"My love, ease your mind. In time, all things will be in place - I have promised you this and it shall be," he cooed, nudging her muzzle lightly as his own broke into a coy grin, "I serve you as the Queen you rightfully are."

Would she desire to leave Iromar? To escape the land as he did? The arrival of Crystarium had solidified his thoughts on the matter - Iromar was no longer what he desired and he did not wish for Caligula to rot in the land of failure. So many of their own kin festered in the mists, completely content with the subdued nature of their ranks; sickening, absolutely maddening. He wanted to find her a world where she could gaze at the night sky - to run through fields and stalk in the night as she was made to do. He had glazed over, his eyes absent in that moment as he stared ahead in thought, only coming to his senses once more at the slightest movement of his Caligula; instantly, he turned back to her, pressing against her lightly and signaling for her to follow (though truthfully, it was he that followed otherwise they moved as equals.)

"Iromar has become... different. Even the air we breathe there feels strange, not right. They fight a petty war that I am not sure we are rightfully a part of. Baphomet may be a strong leader but... I can see the bristle in your fur when he casts orders."

He raised a brow in silent question, his gaze moving to watch her features - he would seek his answers there and he would find her reaction to the implication of shifting alliances (though he hardly had one to the land of mists.

T E S S E R A C T
[ four - soul of caligula ]